With all the obvious connections to CMC and Miami, how come I don’t see reporta of Miami going after him?
We may be fine with who we have? I’m thinking that might be our thinking OR we simply aren’t interested in him. I don’t know.
I don’t think Miami has any prospects as good as Mendoza. Some pretty good coaching staffs seem to think highly of Mendoza.
I dunno… It looked like low hanging fruit.
Mendoza certainly played well against the Canes. No doubt about his intelligence. It was thought while he was at Columbus HS that he’d go to an Ivy League school. There’s something to be said for having a heady QB. Growing up here might compel him to return home.
Perhaps our best bet would be looking at Washington State’s Mateer, the kid who took Cam Ward’s place. He had a very productive year, threw very few interceptions and completed a high percentage of his passes. I’d give the nod to Mateer over Mendoza. He will be heavily pursued were he to enter the portal. It would be something were we to get another stellar QB out of WAZU.
We’re told Emory Williams has improved demonstrably, and I hope this to be the case, but to date I have not been impressed by him. Neither have I been impressed by Judd Anderson. That leaves freshman Luke Nickel whom I like, but I have doubts he’ll be ready to contribute as a freshman. Mario needs to bring in a journey man QB. Watching the GaTech game, I really admired the heart shown by Haynes King. He’s a helluva competitor and I think he’d compliment our QB room and would be available without expending a fistful of dollars.
One non-QB player the Hurricanes should pursue on offense is Alabama RB Justice Haynes. He’s far and away the best ball carrier on the Tide, but didn’t get many touches because QB Milroe was a better runner than passer. Haynes is better than any RB currently on our team. Haynes could well turn out to be an All-American RB; he’s that good.
I think just about EVERY QB played good against our D:)
I like Williams. He led us to a win over Clemson and showed a lot of grit at FSU before getting hurt. He’s the best that we have on the roster. Luke’s scouting report leaves alot to be desired about his arm strength.
If we bring in the RB Haynes I’m not sure that we don’t lose another RB. The thing with the portal is that if you recruit guys to play but keep bringing in portal guys to play your position then I’m not sure I would want to stay either. Fletcher lobbyed for Martinez to come in, however.
I’m not sure Miami isn’t pursuing Mendoza as well as the other top free agent QB’s.
Reporting on such things is seldom accurate. Reporters just make stuff up.
the WSU qb mateer is the one i’m hoping we can get. i dont think he’s in the portal yet but sounds like its a matter of time
Arm strength is no biggie in my mind. A quick release is a far better quality than arm strength. A good QB is one that sustains drives, converts third downs, wins the time of possession stats, shows poise and deceptive ball handling, and refuses to throw desperation passes. Good QBs complete in and around 70% of their throws with few interceptions. In today’s game, you want QB who can run the ball during critical plays rather than some slow guy who sustains numerous sacks or tackles for loss.
Sorry that I have little faith in Emory Williams. To his credit, he has a quick release which helps him having to run for his life. What Williams lacks is natural athleticism and does not move fluidly in the backfield. Williams does have pluck desire and would be serviceable but in no way stellar.
Mateer is the best fit out there in the portal, but competition for his services will be rife. It would be a Cam Ward type coup were Mario to land his commitment, and it would be financially costly. Mendoza is also a prudent choice, given his intelligence, but Mendoza does not possess the dual threat of Mateer.
IMO, we might well roll the dice and gamble. That is, we should seriously consider Kaidon Salter. Salter is a true dual threat QB who would immediately improve our rushing attack. He has a good arm, but he’s a hot dog that needs reigning in. He also has a rather intractable personality, but he’s a true footballer who would make the game interesting. Mario, given his avuncular style, I think, could get the best out of Salter, and we’d have a very exciting offense.
Just saw on 24/7 Mateer to Oklahoma.
Allegedly a $3 million NIL deal…
Poderoso caballero es Don Dinero. (A powerful man is Mr. Money) from the most famous poem of 17th Century Spanish Poet Francisco de Quevedo. Deep pockets in Oklahoma.
It looks like our new chief target now is Mendoza. I think we ought to take the gamble and make an offer for Kaidon Salter. When I think of Emory Williams, I see Tyler Van Dyke in my mind’s eye. Salter’s ability to scamper with the ball gives us the best chance of having a dynamic offense. Pocket QBs are a thing of the past in the collegiate game. Nothing gives an offensive line a lift more than having a smash mouth ground game. With Salter we’ll have the ground game as well as an aerial circus.
Ya, he’s the clear #1 target. The problem is he can name his price…And his OC just went to Oklahoma.
The question is if UM can’t reel in Mateer, how big of an upgrade are these other guys over Emory Williams? I don’t love any of these other options, Mendoza is decent but a clear step down from Mateer. I liked Miller Moss but he went quickly to Louisville…Mensah has tools, but I don’t think he was a lock, must have/must pay by any means.
Salter also has tools, big arm, but accuracy is an issue…Also will command a big price.
Pribula PSU is a nice dual threat guy.
Again though if they miss on Mateer, it seems the staff likes Emory Williams much more than the fan base.
Decent QB…I’m sure we kicked tires. But not a must have imo
A lot of programs are in pursuit.
Per On3’s Pete Nakos, quarterback Kaidon Salter is set to visit Syracuse this week with future visits to Colorado and Florida State also coming. Both UCLA and Auburn have also reportedly shown interest in the former CUSA Male Athlete of the Year.
Ya a lot of tools for sure.
Not going to hold my breath, but here’s hoping!
PS I feel a little bad for Wazzu… they have 22 players in the portal. Sheesh. A lot of offense players. I guess losing major chunk of your coaching staff (OC and QB coach) will do that.
Going after players is no longer the task it used to be. CMC, when asked about recruiting, responded, “You just have to show them greater love than their former coach.” Love has been replaced by money. Coaches needn’t visit homes, former teachers and coaches, send little notes to players, telephone them on a routine basis. Now, you call the player, or his agent, and ask what dollars it will take to obtain his services. Ergo, programs with the greatest financial support prevail, that is, the Ohio States, Alabamas, USC, Oregon, Texas and A&M and so forth.
As for WAZU, it’s location is not exactly a social paradise. The nearest city of any size to Pullman is Spokane, a beautiful place, has one of the greatest Japanese gardens in the world, but hardly a place with a vibrant night-life. Winters in Pullman are severe. For six months, it is extremely dreary with little sunshine. Keeping young people in Pullman is a helluva problem. Many probably see it as being stranded in Siberia. Small wonder the stellar players are going for the gold, and WAZU just cannot match dollars with the great legacy programs. Nobody in their right mind would want to go to WAZU in Pullman rather UM in Coral Gables.
NIL has turned collegiate football into a pro game. Small wonder that Belichick has become head coach at UNC. No more CMR love them. Poderoso Caballero es Don Dinero.
I can’t clearly remember recent years but what’s the chance of a good QB shaking out in the next portal window?
I mean Poffenbarger wouldn’t have committed if we previously had Ward. If he did, he should have been committed.
Maybe take the best guy you can now and toss him overboard if someone else becomes available in the spring? As they say in France, fuck 'em.